Flushing valve



Dec, 9, 1952 s. o. JOHNS FLUSHING VALVE Filed May 19, 1949 .fiatentedDec. 9, 1952 FLUSHING VALVE Stuart Otto Johns, Parkville, Victoria,Australia Application May 19, 1949, Serial No. 94,097 In Australia March24, 1949 Claims.

This invention relates to flushing valves for lavatories and likepurposes and more particularly concerns that type of valve whichincludes a main control valve carrying a tiltable pilot valve and whichis slidable within a valve chamber under the influence of the waterpressure in such a manner as to permit a predetermined quantity'of waterto be discharged whilst the valve is moving from its open to its closedpositions.

Hitherto such types of valves have not proved to be entirelysatisfactory due mainly to difficulty inensuring the delivery of therequired quantity are frequently damaged when the washers are beingreplaced.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvedflushing valve of the kind indicated whereby the various parts thereofmay be disassembled when required and easily reassembled if necessary,by relatively unskilled persons, without altering the volume of waterdelivered during each flush.

Another object is to provide an improved flushing valve of the kindindicated which is capable of being adjusted in a most simple andeffective manner so as to ensure the discharge of the desired volume ofwater during each flush irrespective of the water pressure obtaining inany particular locality.

A further object is to provide an improved main control valve of unitaryconstruction for use in flushing valves of the kind indicated whichavoids the use of the usual plurality of separate sealing washers and isof such simple and inexpensive construction that it may be economicallyreplaced when found necessary.

Other objects and various novel constructional features of the inventionwill be more readily apparent from the following description,

Referring to the drawings which form part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a unitary main control valve inaccordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation looking at the left hand side of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an inverted plan view of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a flushing valve in accordance withthe present invention, the main control valve being shown in its closedposition.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail of some of the parts seen in Figure 5showing the main control valve in its open position for flushingpurposes.

Figure 7 is a cross section taken on the line VI l-Vll of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the adjustable push rod seen inFigures 5 to 7.

As seen more clearly in Figure 5 of the drawings, the improved flushingvalve includes a valve body 2 provided with inlet and outlet passages 3and 4 respectively which may be arranged in substantially L-shapedformation as shown or they may be co-aligned as desired. The walls ofboth the inlet and outlet passages are preferably externally screwthreaded as at 6 for detachable connection to ip n Located between theinlet and outlet passages is an annular seating l for a main controlvalve 8 which is preferably arranged with its axis substantially uprightso that the valve may slide up and down within a valve chamber 9 ashereinafter described.

So that the main control valve may be readily accessible the valvechamber is preferably formed within a removable closure cap II which isprovided with a depending flange l2 and an internal stepped shoulderforming two concentric valve guideways l3 and M of different diametersadapted to prevent tilting of the valve during its sliding movements.The depending flange is fitted with a sealing washer l6 and ispreferably screw threaded as at ll to engage an upstanding screwedsocket I8 on the valve body.

As seen in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the main control valve 8, isof circular shape in plan and composed of synthetic polyvinyl-chlorideor any other resilient material suitable for providing three sealingfaces. One of these faces [9 is located on the bottom of the valve so asto engage the valve seating 1 While the second is located on theperiphery of the valve body. In order that the latter sealing face mayfunction in a manner similar to the well-known type of bucket orU-shaped seal, an open mouthed continuous channel 2| is formed in theperipheral edge portion of the valve body so as to extend upwardly fromthe bottom face thereof. An annular sealing skirt 22 is thus formedaround the valve body which skirt is free at its lower end and connectedat its upper end to the body portion of the valve.

The valve body is also provided with a stepped shoulder forming anupstanding neck portion 23 provided with an open topped recess 24therein. The latter is provided with a substantially flat bottom formingthe third sealing face or seating 25. The neck portion is adapted to beslidably accommodated within the upper guideway IS in the valve chamberwhilst the sealing skirt 22 is adapted to be slidably accommodatedwithin the lower guideway 14 In view of the resilient nature of the maincontrol valve, suitable reinforcement thereof is desirable. As seen moreclearly in Figure 1, an annular reinforcing member 26 which may be ofangular cross section and composed of metal or any other suitable rigidmaterial is preferably embedded in the body portion of the valve, duringits formation. In addition a reinforcing band 2'! preferably encirclesthe neck portion of the valve. This reinforcing band may be composed ofbrass or any other suitable non-corrodable material and be adapted toform a sliding fit within the guideway I3 in the valve chamber.

A passage is provided in the neck portion 23 of the main control valveto establish communication between the two sections of the valvechamher. This passage may consist of an open topped recess 23a formed inthe exterior of the neck portion so as to extend behind the reinforcingband 21 as seen in Figures and-6.

The main control valve is provided with an open ended pressure releasepassage 28 extending axially therethrough and this passage has atiltable pilot valve 23 associated therewith. The latter is accommodatedwithin the aforesaid recess 24 so as to engage the seating 25 therein.The pilot valve is provided with a depending stem 3! which may either beof a fixed length or-of telescopic formation. For example, the stem maybe fitted with a sleeve 32 which is freely slidable lengthwise thereof,suitable stops or shoulders 33 being provided on both the stem and thesleeve so as to limit the downward movement of the latter.

The length of the fixed stem 3| or the sleeve 32 is predetermined inorder to limit the lift of the main control valve and the resultantquantity of water to be discharged during each flush as hereinafterdescribed.

As is well known, the main control valve 8 is normally held on itsseating by the pressure in the inlet passage of the valve body and whichis communicated to the valve chamber 9 by a by-pass passage. Hitherto,this by-pass passage has been formed through the main control valveorvalve body and has been fitted with an adjustable valve to take careof variations in the pressure and ensure the discharge of asubstantially constant volume of water at each flush,

According to another feature of the present invention, non-adjustablemeans are provided for regulating the closing movement of the maincontrol valve in such a manner that the initial part of such movement iseffected more slowly than the concluding part whereby most of thepredetermined volume of flushing water is discharged at substantiallyfull bore rate of flow whilst the remainder is discharged at a morerapidly diminishing rate. Such .valve control means consists of primaryand secondary by-pass passages 34 and 36 respectively which extendthrough the wall of the valve chamber whilst the primary bypass passagemay also require to extend through the adjacent wall of the valve bodyas shown.

Both of these primary and secondary by-pass passages are open ended anddevoid-of adjustable 4 valves. In addition they are spaced lengthwise ofthe valve chamber in such a manner that the primary by-pass passage 34is constantly open but the secondary by-pass passage 36 is inoperativefor the greater part of the closing movement of the main control valveand is not opened to the valve chamber until the lower part of theseating skirt 22 has passed downwardly beyond the secondary by-passpassage. As seen in Figure 5, even when the main valve is closed thesecondary by-pass passage need not necessarily be entirely clear of theupper part of the sealing skirt for the reason that there is sufficientclearance between the upper edge portion of the skirt and the wall ofthe valve chamber to permit the passage of liquid under pressure throughthe secondary by-pass passage into the valve chamber.

Associated with the foregoing is manually operable means for tilting thepilot valve 29 when it is desired to release the main control valve fromits seating. For this purpose a longitudinally slidable push rod or thelike 31 is employed. This may pass through an open ended hole 38 formedin a lateral extension 39 of the valve body. This extension may behollow to form a pocket 4| adapted to accommodate a seal around the pushrod and a coil spring 42 which functions to hold the push rod in aretracted, inoperative position and may also serve to retain the seal inengagement with the rod. The latter may be operable by a universallymovable handle 43 having a cam like inner end 44 engaging the adjacentend of the push rod. The handle may be retained in position by a screwedcap 46 removably connected to the lateral extension.

The inner end of the push rod 31 is adapted to strike the dependingvalve stem 3| or the sleeve 32 carried thereby, thus tilting the pilotvalve and holding it open until the main control valve risessufiiciently to enable the lower end of the stem or its sleeve to clearthe push rod and permit the pilot valve to return to its seating. Itwill be appreciated that the extent of such upward movement of the maincontrol valve determines the volume of water which is discharged priorto the control valve returning to its seating.

In those localities where the water pressure is greater than usual, themain control valve is forced down further onto its seating andconsequently has to lift a correspondingly greater distance before thefirst pilot valve stem or its sleeve is freed from the push rod. Thevolume of water discharged during each flush, may for example, beupwards of one-half gallon greater than the predetermined amount fixedby the Water Board or other Authorities. Naturally the use of suchexcess water is wasteful. In order to avoid this objection, manuallyadjustable means are provided for varying the uplift of the main controlvalve that is necessary to free the lower end of the valve stem or thesleeve carried thereby from the push rod. The provision of such meansenables a substantially constant volume of water to be discharged ateach flush irrespective of the pressure in various localities.

For this purpose, the inner end portion 41 of the push rod is ofvariable radial thickness relative to the axis of the push rod. Forexample, such inner end portions may be of substantially cylindricalform of less diameter than that of the push rod and located eccentricallin relation to the axis thereof. The latter formation is seen moreclearly in Figure 8 of the drawings from which it will be noted thatappropriate turning and setting ofthe push rod Will vary the degree towhich the main control valve must rise before the lower end of the valvestem or the sleeve carried thereby is freed from the eccentric endportion of the push rod.

Means are provided for slidably retaining the push rod in the desiredoperative position after it has been turned to the required setting.Such retaining means may consist of inter-engaging stop members on thevalve body and the push rod. As seen in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings,such stop members may consist of an enlarged head 48 on the outer endportion of the push rod and provided with a series of circumferentiallyarranged fiat faces 49 any one of which is adapted to slidably engage acomplementary flat face on the valve body. The respective flat faces onthe enlarged head may be identified by symbols located for example, onthe outer end of the head. As indicated in Figure 7, the appropriatefaces on the push rod may be marked (1) (2) (3) (4) indicating apressure range of from to 40 lbs. per square inch which should cover thenormal mains pressure.

Hitherto similar types of main control valves have been formed with fiatbottom surfaces with the result that when the valve is open, the waterbeing discharged has a tendency to rise in the central passage 28 andtemporarily unseat the pilot valve 29. This of course delays the closingof main valve and causes wastage of water.

Such a disadvantage is avoided by providing the main control valve 8 onthe bottom with a depending annular lip 53 surrounding the passage 28and provided with a concave outer face 54 which merges with the valvebottom. A depending lip of substantially the cross sectional formillustrated in the drawings, functions to deflect the water beingdischarged downwardly and thus prevents or at least minimizes thepossibility of the pilot valve being unseated by the undesirable entryof water into the central passage 28.

In use, assuming that the main control valve 8 occupies its closedposition on its seating l as in Figure 5, operation of the handle 43,moves the push rod 31 lengthwise against the influence of its spring 32and tilts the pilot valve 29 off its seating. Water under pressure inthe valve chamber 9 is thus permitted to escape through the pressurerelease passage 28 with the result that the water pressure beneath thevalve lifts it upwardly until the lower end of the valve stem 3| or thesleeve 32 carried thereby clears the eccentric end portion 4! of thepush rod and permits the pilot valve to return to its seating. It willbe apparent that if the handle is held so as to retain the push rod inits operative or forward position, the sleeve will telescope on thevalve stem without interfering with the closing movement of the maincontrol valve.

Immediately the pilot valve returns to its seating 25 the water enteringthe valve chamber through the primary by-pass passage 34 commences torestore the pressure in the valve chamber and cause the main controlvalve to return towards its seating. The initial return movement ishowever relatively sloW and thus permits most of the predeterminedvolume of water for the flush to be discharged at substantially fullbore rate of flow. However when the sealing skirt 22 of the main controlvalve passes the secondary by-pass passage 36 suiiiciently to permit itto supply additional water under pressure to the valve chamber, thecontinued downward movement of the main control valve is acceleratedwhich provides a rapidly diminishing flow of water suitable for formingthe necessary water seal for example, within a lavatory bowl.Undesirable friction and tilting of the main control valve is avoided inthat the main volume of water being discharged is free to flow beneaththe raised valve without at any time impinging against its side. Inadditioncushioning of the main control valve is also provided when thelatter is closing so as to avoid undesirable water hammer.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the improved flushingvalve enables the push rod to be initially adjusted to discharge thedesired predetermined volume of water at each flush irrespective of thepressure obtaining in any particular locality. In addition the maincontrol valve and pilot valve may be removed for maintenance purposesand subsequently replaced by relatively unskilled persons withoutnecessitating adjustment of any parts which might vary the volume ofwater being discharged at each flush.

Furthermore the aforesaid unitary construction of the main control valveenables it to be readily and economically replaced when any of thesealing faces thereon become defective.

Instead of being of substantially cylindrical formation as aforesaid,the inner end portion 41 of the push rod may be provided with aplurality of angularly disposed fiat faces located at varying distancesradially from the axis of the push rod.

Various other alterations, modifications and/or additions may beintroduced into the foregoing construction and arrangement of partswithout departing from the ambit of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Pat ent is:

1. For use in a flushing valve of the kind indi cated a unitary maincontrol valve which is composed of synthetic resinous or other resilientmaterial of sufficient elasticity to form a sealing face on the bottomof the valve to engage its seating, a continuous sealing face around theperiphery of the valve so as to engage the wall of an associated valvechamber and a third sealing face in the form of a pilot valve seatinglocated within an upstanding hollow neck on the top of the main controlvalve which is provided with an internal metal reinforcement, saidupstanding hollow neck being fitted with a surrounding metal band whichstiffens the neck portion and also provides a bearing surface forslidably engaging the adjacent side Wall of said valve chamber.

2. An improved flushing valve comprising a valve body having inlet anddischarge passages and a valve chamber and seating located thereetween,a unitary main control valve having a pressure release passagetherethrough and a tiltable pilot Valve associated therewith, said maincontrol valve being [composed of synthetic resin or other resilientmaterial so as to form a sealing face for its seating, a continuoussealing face around the periphery of the valve for slidably engaging thewall of said valve chamber and a third sealing face at/or adjacent tothe top of the valve for said pilot valve, said main control valvecomprising a continuous open mouthed channel extending upwardly from thebottom face thereof adjacent the peripheral edge portion of said valve,primary and secondary by-pass passages extending through the wall ofsaid valve chamber between the latter and said inlet passage, both ofsaid by-pass passages being open ended, devoid of adjustable valves andspaced lengthwise of said aeameac valve chamber so that the primaryby-pass passage is constantly open but the secondary bypass passage isclosed to the valve chamber for the greater part of the closing movementof said main control valve which functions to open the secondary by-passpassage as it nears its seating, said pilot valve having a dependingvalve stem adapted to be engaged and tilted by a longitudinally slidablepush rod which is spring influenced and provided with an inner endportion of substantially cylindrical formation of less diameter than thepush rod and located eccentrically in relation to the axis thereof andmeans for manually adjusting said push rod by partially turning andretaining it in any one of several operative positions withoutinterfering with the-longitudinal' sliding movements thereof.

3. A flushing valve comprising, in combination, a valve body providedwith inlet and discharge passages anda valve let and discharge passages,said valve chamber having two portions one of which is of smaller crosssectional area than the other; amain control valve made of a resilientmaterial and mounted in said valve chamber, said main control valvehaving a first portion located in said other portion of said valvechamber and having a second portion of reduced cross-section withrespect to said first portion, said second portion of said main controlvalve being mounted in said small portion of said valve chamber andhaving a reinforcing ring mounted thereon, said ring being of such asize that it slidingly engages the wall of said small portion of saidvalve chamber, said second portion of said main control valvebeing'formed with a recess located on the outer surface thereof andextending beneath and beyond said ring so as to provide a passagebetween said portions of said valve chamber; and'means for'actuatingsaid main control valve so as to control the flow of Water through saidvalve body by movement of said main control valve in said valve chamber,said movement of said main control valve being guided by cooperation ofsaid second portion of said main control valve with said small'portionof. saidvalve chamber.

4. A flushing valve comprising, in combination, a valve body providedwith inlet and discharge passages and a valve. chamber connecting saidinlet and discharge passages, said valve chamber having two portions oneof which is of smaller cross sectional area than the other; a maincontrol valve made of a resilient synthetic resin material and mountedin said valve chamber, said main control valve having a first portionlocated in said other portion of said valve chamber and having a secondportion of reduced cross-section with respect to said first portion,said second portion of said main control valve being mounted in saidsmall portion of said valve chamber and havchamber connecting said ininga reinforcing ring mounted thereon said ring being of such a size thatit slidingly engages the wall of said small portion of said'valvechamber, said second portion of said main control valve being formedwith a recess located on the outer surface thereof and extending beneathand beyond said ring so as to provide a passage between said portions ofsaid valve chamber; and means for actuating said main control valve soas to control the flow of water through said valve body by movement ofsaid main control valve in said valve chamber, said movement of saidmain control valve being guided by cooperation of said second portion ofsaid main control valve with said small portion of said valve chamber.

5. A flushing valve comprising, in combination, a valve body providedwith inlet and discharge passages and a valve chamber connecting saidinlet and discharge passages, said valve chamber having two portions oneof which is of smaller cross sectional area than the other; a maincontrol valve made of a polyvinyl-chloride and mounted in said valvechamber, said main control valve having a first portion located in saidother portion of said valve chamber and having a second portion ofreduced cross-section with respect to said first portion, said secondportion of said main control valve being mounted in said small portionof said valve chamber and havin a reinforcing ring mounted thereon, saidring being of such a size that it slidingly engages the wall of saidsmall portion of said valve chamber, said second portion of said maincontrol valve being formed with a recess located on the outer surfacethereof and extending beneath and beyond said ring so as to provide apassage between said portions of said valve chamber; and means foractuating said main control valve so as to control the flow. of waterthrough said valve body by movement of said main control valve in saidvalve chamber, said movement of said main control valve being guided bycooperation of said second portion of said main control valve with saidsmall portion of said valve chamber.

STUART OTTO JOHNS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

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